Domestic abuse victim 'had to stay' for her dog
BBCA domestic abuse victim says she does not think she would have survived if not for a dog fostering scheme which helped her leave an abusive relationship.
Audrey - not her real name - said when she tried to leave her ex-partner she contacted her local council but was told she would have to get rid of her pet.
"I just thought 'that's it, I'll have to stay'. I couldn't lose my dog," she said.
Audrey said she was finally able to escape thanks to The Dogs Trust's Freedom scheme, which cared for her pet until she was safe in a new home.
The service sees volunteers provide temporary foster care for dogs and allows people to escape abuse without leaving their pets behind.
The charity said the number of dogs needing to be fostered was on the rise, and jumped from 258 in 2023 to 422 last year.
It has launched an appeal to find more people in the north-east of England who can volunteer as fosterers due to the increased demand.
Yvonne, who has also been anonymised for her safety, contacted the charity when she decided to leave her abusive relationship for the second and final time.
But she said she put off leaving sooner because she feared for her pet.
"I put up with abuse for over two years because I couldn't leave my dog behind," she said.
"Freedom gave me the lifeline I needed and knowing he was safe meant I could finally escape."
'Like leaving family'
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, has supported the appeal and said one in five calls to the force's control room were related to domestic abuse.
She said many perpetrators use dogs as a tool of coercion and threaten to harm the animals if their partner leaves.
"Leaving a dog behind is like leaving a member of your family behind with someone who can't be trusted," she said.
Lauren Bainbridge, from The Dog's Trust in Darlington, said all costs for fostering the dogs would be covered by the charity.
"No-one has to pay for anything," she said.
"The vet bills and everything else are covered by us, so all they need to provide is a safe home for the dog."
Audrey said the scheme allowed her to escape the abusive relationship and find somewhere safe to stay knowing her dog was being loved and cared for.
"I honestly don't think I would have survived if it was not for their help," she said.
"I'm now free."
